Obesity and weight gain will eventually kill you. There are several types of clinically proven surgery that will assist with weight loss, when all else has failed.

The Gastric Ballon is introduced into the stomach through the mouth without the need for surgery. The doctor inserts an endoscopic camera (gastroscope) into the stomach. If no abnormalities are observed, the balloon is placed through the mouth and down the oesophagus into the stomach. Once inside the stomach, it is then filled with a sterile saline solution, through a small filling tube attached to the balloon. Once filled, the doctor removes the tube by gently pulling on the external end, leaving the balloon inside the stomach.

Adjustable Gastric Banding, also known as lap band surgery, is where a gastric band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch. This restricts the intake of food to varying degrees depending on how much the band is filled. It is intended on providing a feeling of fullness. The band can be adjusted (increasing or decreasing the volume) to vary the amount of restriction of food entering the stomach.

Gastric Sleeve involves resection of about 85-90% of the stomach, converting the stomach from a large bag into a narrow tube, thus decreasing the amount of food that can be eaten. In many people this procedure also has the effect of reducing appetite. It may be suitable for patients for whom other diet modification techniques have not worked, although potential patients should discuss their needs with their primary care doctor first. You should feel full after eating only about a cup of food. The added benefit is that by removing 80% of the stomach, the amount of ghrelin secreted between meals is significantly reduced. Ghrelin is a hunger hormone secreted predominantly by the stomach. hence patients who’ve had the sleeve gastrectomy don’t feel the need to snack between meals.

Gastric bypass surgery provides the most robust long term weight loss and has the greatest effect upon improving diabetes and metabolic syndrome. After a gastric bypass, some diabetic patients are able to eliminate all diabetic medications within days or even hours of the operation. Bypass also has the most dramatic effect on lowering triglycerides and cholesterol. The bypass procedure is extremely effective at treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, in fact it is becoming common to perform a bypass in patients with severe debilitating reflux who have failed medical therapy and even prior operations for reflux. It is also a salvage procedure for those who have had complications with prior bariatric procedures.

There are various styles of gastric bypass, the most common is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This procedure is the most common procedure worldwide and is gaining popularity in Australia due to its strong longer term effect on weight loss

What are some of the benefits?

Great weight loss results

Capable of delivering good long term results

No more dieting

Portions control

May eliminate or relieve symptoms of many health conditions (e.g. diabetes).